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Enjoy the very best of LondonTue, 17 Mar 2015 16:11:19 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1Where To Watch The World Cup In London 2014http://blog.visitlondon.com/2014/06/where-to-watch-the-world-cup-in-london-2014/
http://blog.visitlondon.com/2014/06/where-to-watch-the-world-cup-in-london-2014/#commentsTue, 03 Jun 2014 09:00:01 +0000http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=38844

Whether you love it or hate it, the World Cup is upon us once again. London, being the international city it is, allows fans from all nations to watch their team fight it out for the trophy in Brazil this summer (12 Jun-13 Jul).

Here I’ve picked the top 10 sides in the betting for the tournament and a venue in which to watch them.

With time difference being an issue this year you may encounter some tricky viewing experiences. Our advice? Embrace the chaos: enjoy champagne at 2am while watching France, have a midnight steak while watching Argentina, and if you can stomach watching England, at least you know there’s always an all-day breakfast somewhere for you.

AFP Photo/Wagner Meier

And as everyone likes a big outdoor screen, head over to Exchange Square in The City for the Broadgate Summer of Sport, which includes free screenings of everything from the World Cup to Wimbledon, the Tour de France and more.

For spectacular views, and a dash of samba spirit in The City, head over to Japanese/Brazilian restaurant Sushisamba for a month-long Mundial party. The restaurant is housed on the 28th floor of the Salesforce tower (formerly the Heron Tower) and will be putting games on the big screen, as well as special menus, cocktails and giveaways.

Player to Watch: Barcelona playmaker Neymar will have the weight of a nation’s hopes on his narrow shoulders, can he light up the tournament?

Gaucho has 11 steak houses in London alone, and is offering a special £35 menu for the 5pm and 11pm matches, which will include Gaucho burgers, steak ciabatta and a selection of empanadas. It doesn’t get much better than sitting back with a rib-eye and a glass of Malbec to watch the world’s finest player Lionel Messi dazzle on the big screen.

They may be the oldest footballing enemy we have, and let’s hope it doesn’t go to penalties, but the Germans do cater towards watching football well. Herman Ze German’s Soho restaurant and Zeitgeist in Vauxhall both serve great wursts and steins of German beer. What more do you want?

Player to Watch: Arsenal favourite Mesut Ozil will want to catch the eye in Brazil

Soho is the place to go for Italian flair. Italia Uno in Goodge Street comes with a good reputation for Serie A matches, so expect a good atmosphere. Elsewhere, Bar Italia should prove a magnet for Italian fans, especially when they play England on 14 June.

This is probably the best spot in Little Portugal, based around the Stockwell area of South London, to catch Cristiano Ronaldo and co. take on the world’s best sides. The commentary will likely come direct from Portuguese TV and expect some of the most passionate fans in Europe. Don’t blame us, Nandos probably aren’t showing the games!

It doesn’t really matter where you watch England this summer. Hundreds of pubs, restaurants and cafés will be showing the game, whether it’s a big sports bar like Rileys, or a smaller London pub, the atmosphere will be the same: a heady mix of self-deprecating optimism.

AFP Photo/Adrian Dennis

Or, for a bit of everything, Grand Union bars are offering themed burgers from 11 of the competing nations.

Player to Watch: Liverpool teenager Raheem Sterling is England’s most exciting attacking prospect in years

Where will you be watching your team? Give us your favoured venues in the comments section below.

]]>http://blog.visitlondon.com/2014/06/where-to-watch-the-world-cup-in-london-2014/feed/7Pamper Days for Men in Londonhttp://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/12/pamper-days-for-men-in-london/
http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/12/pamper-days-for-men-in-london/#commentsTue, 18 Dec 2012 10:10:59 +0000http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=30757

When it comes to presents and luxury experiences, there are far more options out there for the ladies. Here, we’re tipping the scales in favour of boys. They deserve fun too – and some of these experiences could make a great last-minute Christmas treat.

Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea

Tiny scones and cucumber sandwiches are delicious. But if you want something equally miniature but more macho, establishments like Chapters brasserie in Blackheath have come up with a hearty alternative to the traditional afternoon tea. They have replaced the cakes and tea with Greenwich Meantime beer, salt beef on toasted rye bread, mini-burgers and champagne-glazed oysters. More meat-focused, but no less indulgent. The tea isn’t available in December but will be back in January.

Men-only Spa Day

We all like a bit of self-maintenance, and Nickel Spa in Westminster caters only to men. Gents can choose a male or female therapist for treatments including massage, body treatments, facials and microdermabrasion. If you’re a first-timer to a spa and aren’t quite sure how to act, they offer a handy etiquette guide.

The Perfect Steak

London is blessed with many excellent steak restaurants. Hawksmoor and Gaucho are solid choices, but the newly-opened MASH would be my top pick (the name stands for modern American steak house). MASH has an elegant art deco interior, fantastic wine list and an owner who can advise on your carnivorous choices if you need some help.

Go Karting

Adventurous types will love zooming round the track at one of Team Sport’s two London go karting tracks. Each centre at Tower Bridge and Enfield boasts a 400m track and karts that can reach 40mph. At the end of a session, drivers are given a full race report detailing track times and where they ranked against other competitors.

A Trip to the Barber

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about an old-fashioned barber’s shop. Murdock has branches in Shoreditch, Soho, Covent Garden, Spitalfields and Mayfair, and you can come away with some beautiful shaving accessories that could make stylish presents.

Know of any other pampering activities for men in London? Or have you tried some of these out? Let us know below.

Yes, it’s that time of the year again. Wimbledon season is upon us and we can’t wait!

The world’s most famous tennis tournament returns to SW19 and with Britain’s Andy Murray in contention again this year, it’s sure to be another exciting couple of weeks.

For those unlucky enough not to have tickets (us included) and those of you who can’t be bothered to queue, there are many places in London to watch the action. We’ve selected a few of the best.

The classy Bluebird restaurant on Kings Road will be showing the action on a big screen in their sheltered courtyard. In true Chelsea style, why not watch the action with a bowl of strawberries and cream and choose a glass or two of bubbly from their champagne and cocktail menu?

Gaucho Piccadilly: Fill-up on some quality Argentinean steak, watch the tennis on the big screen then work off the whole cow you have just eaten on Gaucho’s own tennis court.

Canada Square Park provides another alternative outside venue to watch the matches while soaking up the sun throughout the tournament.

If you want a taste of the Wimbledon atmosphere without having to pay to get in, why not head to The Woodmansportspubwith its 52 inch outdoor screen or stylish The Common Room lounge bar, both in Wimbledon Village.